ABSTRACT
At any moment of time, a power system can be regarded as consisting of a number of nodes, all of which are linked to some of the others by transmission lines. Each node contains generating capacity and/or a load to be met. A generating station usually contains several sets or units, i.e. in the case of natural gas, oil or coal-fired stations, combinations of boiler, turbine and auxiliary plant. The analysis applies to an ideal situation where coal from each mine is priced at its marginal cost where coal is transported at marginal cost and where natural gas and oil are delivered to power stations at marginal cost. Given all these factors, linear programming is one of several possible methods which can be used to determine the optimum either from a national point of view of the electricity industry alone.
